The Atlantic Coast Conference changed significantly last season with Pitt winning the league title, Wake Forest taking the Atlantic Division and conference powerhouse Clemson largely out of the mix by mid-October.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Sam Hartman's big day capped Wake Forest's best season in 15 years.
Hartman tossed three touchdown passes, two of them to tight end Brandon Chapman, and the 20th-ranked Demon Deacons beat Rutgers 38-10 in the Gator Bowl on Friday to reach 11 wins for the second time in program history.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Accepting a spot in the Gator Bowl was easy for Rutgers. Getting there proved much more daunting.
The Scarlet Knights, a late substitution for Texas A&M in Friday’s game against 20th-ranked Wake Forest, spent several days trying to land a charter flight for the trip and eventually needed two to get everyone to Jacksonville.
With less than a week to prepare, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is going to keep No. 20 Wake Forest in the dark when it comes to who will be playing for the Scarlet Knights in the Gator Bowl on Friday.
Rutgers will replace Texas A&M in the Gator Bowl against Wake Forest after an NCAA committee decided Thursday to adhere to an existing policy for making teams with 5-7 records bowl eligible.
The NCAA football oversight committee also announced that any bowl can be moved to as late as Jan.
No. 23 Texas A&M won’t play in the Gator Bowl against No. 20 Wake Forest on Dec. 31 because of COVID-19 issues and season-ending injuries, but the Demon Deacons might still get a game.
Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday night the NCAA Football Oversight Committee will meet Thursday morning to discuss allowing another team to take Texas A&M's place.
Duke is turning to Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko to turn around its football program after a two-year slide and a winless Atlantic Coast Conference record.
The school announced Elko's hiring Friday night, ending a nearly two-week process to hire the replacement for David Cutcliffe.
The fake slide Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett used to help clear his path for a long touchdown run in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game is against the rules in college football — effective immediately.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said the NCAA needs to review its rules on whether quarterbacks should be allowed to “fake slide” after escaping the pocket.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Erick Hallett II saw the receiver running to his side and knew the ball was coming his way.
He cut in front to snag a jumping interception and began sprinting for the end zone with the ball clutched in his right hand — then extended the ball as he crossed the goal line for the touchdown that transformed No.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett has the records — and now he has an Atlantic Coast Conference championship to go along with them.
Pickett’s ascent to a likely Heisman Trophy candidate and a prospective first-round NFL draft pick took another big step forward as he threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a 58-yard score, helping Pittsburgh defeat Wake Forest 45-21 on Saturday night and giving the Panthers their first ACC title.
ATLANTA (AP) — Bryce Young threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as fourth-ranked Alabama rolled over No. 1 Georgia 41-24 in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday, a result that likely sends both powerhouse programs to the four-team College Football Playoff.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Dave Clawson needed eight seasons to build a successful football program at Wake Forest and turn the Demon Deacons into Atlantic Coast Conference division winners.
Pat Narduzzi needed a little less time to do it at Pittsburgh, though the Panthers seemed poised to take another big step in Year 7 of his tenure.
No. 17 Pittsburgh (10-2, 7-1 ACC, No. 17 CFP) vs No. 18 Wake Forest (10-2, 7-1, No. 18), Saturday at 8 p.m. EST (ABC), at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
Line: Pitt by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Two surprising programs with high-powered offenses will square off Saturday night when No. 17 Pittsburgh meets 18th-ranked Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference has named Wake Forest's Dave Clawson as its coach of the year and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett as its player of the year.
The league released its individual awards this week.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kenny Pickett didn't get specific. He didn't need to. The goal the Pittsburgh quarterback set for himself when he made the surprising decision to return in 2021 rather than enter the NFL draft covered all the bases.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Wake Forest has extended drives all year with a tempo-controlling offense that regularly responds with precision when it’s time to move the chains.
Pittsburgh’s defense keeps getting off the field with a knack for timely stops.
BOSTON (AP) — Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson had no complaints about sharing the screen on his postgame video call.
“Say hello to our new friend,” he said, holding up the ACC’s Atlantic Division trophy after the No.
Wake Forest has signed football coach Dave Clawson to what it calls a long-term contract extension as Clawson guides the No. 21 Demon Deacons through a historically successful season.
The school announced the deal Friday night, a day before Wake Forest plays at Boston College to clinch the Atlantic Coast Conference's Atlantic Division title and a trip to the league championship game.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — There’s no more need for Wake Forest to wonder about the possible championship scenarios.
And no more safety net.
Win, and the Demon Deacons will play in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game against Pittsburgh.
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson did what it had to do for a chance to extend its run of ACC Atlantic Division titles.
Now, it's out of the Tigers hands. They have to wait for this weekend's results to see what's next for them.
The superpowers asserted themselves over the upstarts Saturday.
In a season that has been dotted with upsets and surprises, the most talented teams are rising to the top.
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — At last, Clemson looked like the powerhouse it was supposed to be this season.
Kobe Pace ran for a career-high 191 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers won their 13th straight over No.
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — No. 13 Wake Forest (9-1, 6-0 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 10 CFP) at Clemson (7-3, 5-2), Saturday at 12 p.m. EST (ESPN).
Line: Clemson by 4 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — No. 13 Wake Forest has a huge final step if it hopes to end Clemson's reign atop the Atlantic Coast Conference: end its 12-game losing streak to the Tigers.
The Demon Deacons (9-1, 6-0 ACC) can win the ACC Atlantic with a victory Saturday at Clemson.
Here are things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Week 12:
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 13 Wake Forest at Clemson. The Demon Deacons (9-1, 6-0) took a big step toward winning the league’s Atlantic Division race by beating No.
Someone is getting snubbed.
Virginia has Brennan Armstrong, who is third in the country with 3,557 passing yards. Pittsburgh has Kenny Pickett, who vaulted himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation with 32 touchdown passes this season.
WACO, Texas (AP) — Gerry Bohanon threw a touchdown pass and ran for two scores, Baylor’s defense constantly pressured Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler and the No. 18 Bears beat No. 4 Oklahoma 27-14 on Saturday to end the Sooners’ nation’s-best 17-game winning streak.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — The off-target throws, drops and mistakes kept coming for No. 13 Wake Forest. So did the injuries — all on a night when the Demon Deacons were trying to take a huge step toward winning their Atlantic Coast Conference division.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — The ball sailed his way, and Wake Forest’s A.T. Perry had a step on his defender. He extended his right arm into his opponent's shoulder to maintain that sliver of sideline separation and corralled the ball with his left – pinned between his forearm, biceps and chest – while remaining in stride as he crossed the goal line.
No. 21 North Carolina State (7-2, 4-1 ACC) at No. 13 Wake Forest (8-1, 5-0), Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EST (ACC Network).
Line: Wake Forest by 1 1/2 , according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Both Wake Forest and North Carolina State entered the season with ambitions of dethroning six-time reigning Atlantic Coast Conference champion Clemson, first by knocking the Tigers from atop the league’s Atlantic Division standings.
Things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference for Week 11:
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 21 North Carolina State at No. 13 Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons (8-1, 5-0 ACC) took their first loss of the season last week, a three-point nail-biter to North Carolina in a nonconference matchup, so they're still a game ahead of NC State (7-2, 4-1) in the Atlantic Division.
The Atlantic Coast Conference divisional races are far from decided and several schools still have a shot at winning the league crown.
Virginia defensive lineman Mandy Alonso is enjoying the journey.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Bryce Young passed for 302 yards and No. 3 Alabama’s defense came up with enough big plays for a 20-14 victory over heavy underdog LSU on Saturday night.
The Crimson Tide (8-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference, No.
STARS
—Ty Chandler, North Carolina, ran for career highs of 213 yards and four TDs to help the Tar Heels overcome an 18-point deficit to beat No. 10 Wake Forest 58-55.
—Roshaun Johnson, Idaho, scored a school-record six TDs and ran for 174 yards in a 42-24 win over Southern Utah.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — For the second straight year, Wake Forest couldn't protect a big second-half lead at North Carolina. This time, though, it likely cost the 10th-ranked Demon Deacons any chance of playing their way deeper into the College Football Playoff race.
No. 10 Wake Forest (8-0, No. 9 CFP) at North Carolina (4-4), Saturday at noon EDT (ABC).
Line: UNC by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Wake Forest has its highest AP Top 25 ranking, the best start in program history and is in the race to reach the College Football Playoff.
Getting there requires the 10th-ranked Demon Deacons to keep winning through a demanding November – starting with Saturday’s unusual matchup against fellow instate Atlantic Coast Conference team North Carolina that won’t count in the league standings.
Things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference for Week 10:
GAME OF THE WEEK
Georgia Tech at Miami. The Hurricanes' 38-34 victory against Pittsburgh put them back in the ACC Coastal Division race at 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the league.
Michigan State might be fortunate not to be ranked No. 2.
Coming off a big win against Michigan, the fifth-ranked Spartans are heading to Purdue, a program with a long history of being one of the college football's most prolific giant killers.
Michigan State moved up to No. 5 in The Associated Press college football poll and Wake Forest became a top-10 team on Sunday for the first time in school history.
Georgia is a unanimous No. 1 for the fourth straight week in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Kenneth Walker ran for 197 yards and five touchdowns, helping No. 8 Michigan State top No. 6 Michigan 37-33 in a thrilling comeback victory Saturday.
The Spartans (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) trailed by nine at halftime and 30-14 with 6:47 left in the third quarter before Walker boosted his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy.